Choosing Healthy Drinks

Healthy Drinks

Adults and children who drink one or more sugary drinks a day are more likely to be overweight or obese. Sugary drinks include sodas, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, and blended teas and coffees.

Soda is the #1 source of added sugar in American diets today. There are about 17 teaspoons of sugar in every 20-ounce bottle of soda. It's easy to grab a beverage without realizing how many calories we're drinking. But reducing the number of sugary beverages a person drinks can lead to weight loss.

Choose lower-calorie drinks to keep you from drinking lots of calories during the day.

Smart Drink Tips

• Read nutrition labels. Choose drinks with no more than 25 calories per 8-ounce serving, and notice how many servings are in one drink
• Make sure juice is 100% fruit juice and limit to 8 ounces each day
• Choose plain, flavored, or carbonated water and diet drinks instead of regular sodas and fruit drinks as often as possible
• Carry a water bottle around with you during the day, to quench your thirst without adding on the calories.
• Buy skim or low-fat milk
• Add a splash of 100% fruit juice (like cranberry juice) to plain sparkling water to make a low-calorie drink
• Sweeten coffee and tea with calorie-free sweeteners and low-fat or fat-free milk
• When you do go for a sugary drink, go for a smaller size (such as an 8-oz can or bottle of soda)
• Limit energy drinks- each drink contains between 16-18 teaspoons of sugar
• Only have sports drinks after intense physical activity, not as an everyday beverage.

Smart Drink Tips for Kids

If you give your kids juice, make sure it is 100% fruit juice and limit it to a ½ cup each day.

Think vitamin waters, flavored coffee drinks, smoothies and energy drinks are a smarter choice? While they sound innocent enough, these drinks can contain an alarming amount of calories. Remember to check the Nutrition Facts Label.

Learn more about healthy snacks.